The Health Newsletter 2013 3/22/2013

Previously I mentioned the difficulty we’re all having facing health issues and how western medicine and what we eat can and have killed healthy bacteria in our intestines which is 80% of what our immune system relies on. At the end of the newsletter I said that there would be more information on taking care of our immune system and here it is.

In my ongoing interest in self-care, especially after my first, and hopefully only, bout with pneumonia last month, I came across a website called BioTrust (www.biotrust.com) created by Brett Hall, R.D. and Tim Skwiat, CSN. They have created supplements to help with modern day health issues, which I am not promoting here, but I found their information along the same lines as, and even expanding on, the information I have accumulated and know through personal experience to be true and helpful. They also referenced quite a few scientific reports and papers to back up their findings, for anyone who needs it.

One of the most important health issues we’re all dealing with is our weakened immune system that has been compromised by modern antibiotics and the “dead” and harmful food we eat everyday. Here is what Brett and Tim have to say about that. I have shortened their explanations, so if you want the full info, please let me know and I’ll send it to you.

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As you may already know, obtaining and maintaining the proper ratio of bacteria in the gut is extremely important for your overall health and plays a critical role in immune function, the prevention of many diseases, and the optimization of body composition. Optimizing your gut health depends on the combination of reducing “bad” bacteria (aka pathobiotics) while increasing “good” bacteria (aka probiotics).

Here is a list of 11 foods/drinks that kill the good bacteria in your gut, which then opens our bodies up to a vast number of diseases, some as simple as the cold which seems impossible to get rid of.

1 – Granola Bars

The real evil here is SUGAR. This gut-killing ingredient runs abundantly even in unsuspecting supposedly healthy foods. The laundry list of sugar’s health-robbing qualities seems never-ending. In addition to spiking your blood sugar, packing on a spare tire around your waist, and wreaking hormonal havoc, sugar is arguably the worst offender in causing your gut flora to be completely out of balance. Not only is sugar completely void of any health-bearing properties, it is truly a haven for pathobiotics and bad bacteria.

2 – French Fries

Today’s French fries that are deep fried in vegetable oil/shortening are loaded with calories, high-glycemic carbohydrates, saturated fats and health-desecrating trans fats. Trans fats are linked to an increased risk for coronary heart disease, cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, and lymphoma. Trans fats also lower “good” cholesterol while simultaneously elevating “bad” cholesterol and can lead to colorectal adenomas — small growths, or polyps, in the colon and rectum that, if left untreated, can result in colorectal cancer.

3 – Diet Sodas

Artificial sweeteners like sucralose (Splenda), aspartame (Equal), and saccharin (Sweet ‘n Low) — along with other artificial ingredients, flavors, and preservatives — are linked to increased calorie intake, obesity, and storing more body fat. What’s more, researchers from Duke University published a study in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health that suggests that Splenda significantly depresses the number of good bacteria in your gut. In addition, research from the Canadian Journal of Gastroenterology suggests that artificial sweeteners are to blame for the rise in inflammatory bowel diseases.

4 – Light and Fat Free Yogurts

While eating dairy can actually increase the amount of good bacteria in your gut, you may not have heard that the pasteurization and related heating process that most commercially purchased dairy go through actually completely destroys all of the probiotic bacteria in those foods. From milk to yogurt, nearly all of the healthy bacteria that you would want from these foods have been destroyed.

What’s more, many of the yogurts that are marketed as “healthy” on the grocery store shelves are packed with sugar. If they’re not, they’re loaded with artificial sweeteners which are robbing your gut of good bacteria. Opt for organic dairy sources that specifically state that the foods contain “live cultures.” Instead of “fruit on the bottom” options, get some fresh fruit from the produce aisle and add it yourself to some healthy, organic plain yogurt.

5 – Atlantic Salmon

Salmon is packed with protein and massive dose of anti-inflammatory omega-3 fatty acids, right? However, it’s almost a guarantee that any salmon caught from the Atlantic and sold at your local grocer or offered at your favorite restaurant is farm-raised which have been kept captive in a pen all day and fed a diet full of soy, corn, and a bunch of other stuff that has no resemblance to what these fish would actually consume if left alone to roam the seas wildly. The result: the diets of farm-raised salmon are significantly higher in omega-6 fatty acids, while dramatically lower in omega-3 fatty acids than their wild counterparts.

What’s more, these farm-raised fish are often plagued by pests and disease, which

means they have to be treated with pesticides and antibiotics. Those chemicals are passed right along to you, and they kill bacteria in your system, good and bad.

6 – Non-Organic Vegetables and Fruits

The majority of commercially produced vegetables and fruits are heavily treated with agricultural chemicals and pesticides. Plants that have been treated with these dangerous chemicals carry them. These chemicals not only affect the bacteria concentration in these foods, the pesticide residue can also be passed along to you and destroy your own good bacteria.

When you’re sick with an infection, one of the first things your doctor prescribes is an antibiotic. Antibiotics kill off the bacteria that are compromising your immune system. But, those same antibiotics kill off a fair share of your good bacteria. Animals are also treated with antibiotics. Those antibiotics have the same effect on the cattle as they do humans and they are directly passed along to you when you enjoy them for dinner. You can expect the same effects on your gut health.

9 – Breakfast Cereals

Not only are these foods sources of empty calories, they often result in damaged intestinal

lining and inflammation that ruin your gut health. These heavily processed foods are void of nutrients and fiber. In addition, they are often loaded with added sugar and artificial ingredients. Other foods in this category include nearly all store-bought breads (not just “white” bread either), pastas, baked goods, and instant hot cereals.

10 – Margaritas

Research from the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and the Mayo Clinic suggest that even moderate drinking — one drink per day for a woman and two for a man — can lead to small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), which results in negative symptoms like stomach upset, cramping, gas, and bloating.

While the occasional consumption of alcohol has been shown to have some health benefits, it’s becoming apparent that regular consumption can challenge your gut health. It’s well-advised to eliminate the consumption of brightly-colored, sugary, fruity drinks and perhaps limiting your alcohol consumption entirely to a single drink — preferably red wine or light beer — to a couple nights per week.

11 – Water

Bleach is a household chemical that is used to remove color and stains, whiten, and overall disinfect things. Chlorine is the basis for most bleach products. Can you imagine bathing in bleach? Well, many of you do on a regular basis as your water is chlorinated. That chlorine can seep into your skin and wipe out good bacteria just like it wipes out stains.

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Please take this as you will: information I found very helpful. As this year lifts us into the higher vibes, we go farther faster if our bodies are as balanced as possible. One of the first lessons in developing intuitive or psychic abilities is to keep your body healthy. A healthy gut means a healthy body.

Again, if you’d like the full article, please let me know and I’ll email it to you.

With love and gratitude…

1 Comment

Christopher Gullickson
on February 9, 2014 at 8:13 am

Laurie,

In looking up Brett Hall I came across your website and am interested in your findings. I am not the greatest at research and enjoy reading about health improvements and information about health promotion. Question: Have you ever heard of Dr. Mercola? I would be interested in your thoughts if you have.

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My Thoughts: “I believe the ability to see what’s beyond – whether that be the current situation, past lives or the future – is but a road map to help in life when life becomes muddled and confused. If I help even one person to understand the why of things and their soul purpose, I feel I am following my path and accomplishing my personal journey. And I am always grateful for the opportunity to help.”